b'8American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(BOOMINGcontinuedworking group under that Sub- thecommitteesresponsetoUS and Canada announce a from page 4) Committee to coordinate on atheirMay2021directive intoacombo-modelthatshared understanding of criticaltoexplorenewapproachesMoU on trade in solar productsincorporatesdomesticandinfrastructure priorities. tobetterengagewith internationallygrownintoMinisters also recognizedunderrepresentedcommunitiesNorth American supply chain The United States and Canada asingleregion.Withinthat competitiveness is directlyon trade issues, acknowledgingannounced a memorandum offorcleanenergyproducts a30-mileradius,Northlinkedtotheproductivityofthedirectiveoninclusiveunderstanding (MOU) to settlemadewithoutforcedlabor. Americanchainbuyerscanour workers and that ensuringtradeforCUSMA/T-MEC/ adisputeontradeinsolarIn early 2018, the United States accessMexico-grownandunderrepresentedgroupsareUSMCAcommitteeworkproductsundertheUnitedimposedthesolarsafeguard Texas-grownproducenearlysupportedandequippedtoandtheestablishmentofaStates-Mexico-Canadameasuretosupportthe year-round,limitingtheirsucceed in current and futuresub-committeeondiversityAgreement(USMCA).Thedomestic solar industrys efforts transportation costs and fillingcareers, including high-growthandinclusionbythePrivateMOUpromotesgreaterto adjust to import competition outtheirgrocerylists.Plus,sectorssupportingalowerCommercial Dispute Committee. North American solar supplyprimarily attributable to excess thegeographicallocationofcarbonfuture,isnecessaryintegration and reaffirms bothsolar cell and module capacity South Texas makes it far moreforavibrantandgrowingl aBor countriescommitmenttoby Chinese producers in China costeffectiveasaloadingmiddleclass.Therefore,The Ministers reaffirmedprohibitimportsofsolarandaroundtheworldand point to service the Midwest,Ministers welcomed upcomingtheircommitmenttoupholdproductsproducedinwholeexacerbatedbyChinasnon-Southeast and Northeast thanworkforcedevelopmenteventsworkersrightsassetoutorinpartwithforcedormarket practices. The safeguard a loading point in CaliforniaineachcountrytogainanintheCUSMA/T-MEC/ compulsory labor. The MOUmeasure was established after or Arizona. This keeps costsunderstandingofnationalUSMCA,includingfreedomalsocontainsamechanismtheU.S.InternationalTrade downandproductfresherapproachestoworkforceof association and collectivetoensurethatsolarproductCommission(USITC)found forconsumersandstoresdevelopment,toexchangebargainingrights.Today,importsfromCanadadothat the domestic solar industry and continues to make SouthbestpracticesandtoexploreCanada,Mexico,andthenotunderminetheexistingwasseriouslyinjuredby Texas an optimal location forregional solutions to workforceUnited States reiterated a jointU.S.safeguardmeasureonincreased imports. fresh produce procurement development challenges. commitment to address forcedimportsofsolarproducts.OnFebruary4,2022, thanks to USMCA/NAFTA. labourinoursupplychainsAmbassador Katherine Tai andPresidentBidenextendedthe sMe s andI nclusIvet rade anddiscussedopportunitiesMinisterMaryNgwillsignsolarsafeguardmeasurefor TheMinistersreiteratedfor continued sharing of bestthe MOU on July 8, 2022. anadditionalfouryearsand (MEETINGcontinuedtheir commitment to increasingpractices,experiencesandTacklingtheclimatedirectedtheUnitedStates from page 4) theengagementofSMEslessonslearnedinrelationcrisis has been a top priorityTrade Representative to conclude invasionofUkrainecausedledbygroupsthataretoforcedlabourandotherfromdayoneoftheBidenagreementswithCanadaand severe economic consequencestraditionally underrepresentedforms of labour exploitation.Administration and we haveMexicoontradeinsolar acrosstheglobaltradingin international trade such asThe Ministers also discussedcontinuedtoforgeacleanproducts.OnFebruary15, system. women,Indigenouspeoplesstepseachcountryistakingenergytransitionthatwill2022, a USMCA panel issued During this second meetingandotherunderrepresentedtoimplementthesharedprotectourplanet,saidits report, finding that the prior oftheFTC,theMinistersgroups, and to facilitate their accessCUSMA/T-MEC/USMCAAmbassadorKatherineTai.Administrationsdecisionto reviewed the ongoing workbyto the North American market.obligationtoprohibittheReachingthissettlementincludeimportsfromCanada CUSMA/T-MEC/USMCATheyalsoacknowledgedimportation of goods producedwithCanadawillpromotein the solar safeguard measure committeesandworkingthepotentialforfurtherby forced labour. Improvinggreaterdeploymentofwasinconsistentwithcertain groupstoimplementthecollaborationoninclusivethe livelihoods of workers issolarenergyintheUnitedUSMCA rules. The MOU with Agreement,particularlyontrade in multilateral forums. a shared goal at the heart ofStatesusingproductsfromCanadaalsoconstitutesa Agriculture Trade, AgriculturalThe Ministers recognizedthe Agreement and Ministersoneofourclosestallies,resolution of this outstanding Biotechnology,TradeFacilitation,the many activities organizedcommittedtocontinuetheandfosteramoreresilientdispute.TemporaryEntry,Privateover the last two years by thedialogueandcollaborative Commercial Disputes, SanitarySMECommitteetosupporteffortstothisend.The andPhytosanitaryMeasures,SMEs from all three countries,Ministersexpressedtheirstated at the North Americanagreedthatcommittees TechnicalBarrierstoTrade,andthespecificattentiondesire to continue discussingForeignMinistersMeetingshould explore ways to better TransportationServices,Stategiven to communities that arewaystoadvancelabouronthemarginsoftheengage with underrepresented Owned Enterprises, and Goodtraditionally underrepresentedmattersatthenextLabourSummit of the Americas, wecommunitiestoensurethe Regulatory Practices. intrade. TheMinisterswereCouncil in 2023. recognizethattheCUSMA/ Agreementbenefitsthose The Ministers took note ofalsopleasedthatdelegationsT-MEC/USMCA has an everwhohavehistoricallybeen this progress, offered guidancetravelledtoSanAntonio,n exts tePs moreimportantroletoplayleftbehindbytrade.The for future work, and reiteratedTexas,toattendthefirstAs our countries continueinrevitalizingourregion,Partiesfurtheragreedto thatongoingengagementistrilateralSMEDialogueinto recover from the COVID- includingforSMEsandholdaDeputiesmeeting criticaltotheAgreementsApril of this year. The Ministers19andfacetheeconomicunderrepresentedpeoples,beforetheendofthisyear fullimplementation.Thelook forward to the next SMEimpactofRussiasillegaland promoting a global rules- toassessprogressonthe MinistersalsoengagedinDialogue,whichwillbeandunprovokedinvasionbased order. As we continueareashighlightedtodayand broader discussions on NorthhostedbyMexicoin2023.ofUkraine,consistentwithimplementingtheCUSMA/ identify ongoing opportunities AmericanCompetitiveness,TheMinistersacknowledgedwhatourForeignMinistersT-MEC/USMCA,Partiesfor future engagement.SMEsandInclusiveTrade, Labour, and Environment.n ortHa MerIcanc oMPetItIvenessThe Ministers affirmed their sharedinterestinstrengthening regionaleconomicgrowth, prosperity and competitiveness. TheyacknowledgedthatNorth Americancompetitiveness underpins the future prosperity, securityandsustainabilityof allthreecountries.Ministers recognizedthatintegrated supply chains are a competitive advantageforNorth America andthatmaintainingtrade flows in emergency situations is essential for all three countries.Therefore, they directed the CompetitivenessCommittee tocomplete,within90 days,negotiationsonthe establishmentofasub-committee to cooperate during emergencysituationsinorder tomaintain,re-establish, orotherwiseaddressissues relatedtotheflowoftrade between the Parties as well as a'